Heartwarming factor is the renewed
interest of major international and regional airlines to come back to a
destination

FROM KAHLID BUTT, LAHORE.
May 08 - May
14, 2006

Aviation in Pakistan is currently
undergoing a process of mega expansion after many years of stagnation,
indifference or sustained planning.

This stems from current progressive
policies of the government to open up the country and make it investment
friendly region though its relentless efforts being made at all levels. This
also involves the extensive steps to improve infrastructure especially in
communications. Apart from the Gawadar Port and coastal highway, which are
nearing completion comes the urgency of building modern airport terminals and
other facilities at Islamabad and Gawadar. The upgrading of other major airports
like Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad and opening up of a state-of-the-art
modern Airport at Sialkot shortly under a private sponsorship are the other
indicators to suggest the big upcoming change in the offing.

Another heartwarming factor is the
renewed interest of major international and regional airlines to come back to a
destination, which was once the most popular east of Suez in Asia once. With the
current new developments, expected opening up of Gawadar and most convenient
access to points in Central Asia, Middle East, Gulf, China and other
neighbouring countries, a whole new world of opportunities are now finally
opening up. That is if the authorities now grab up this moment and not let it
slip out of their hands with their usual lack of farsightedness and officialdom
for which Pak Civil Aviation Authority has been quite well known.

A number of leading airlines is already
back, resuming their services to Pakistan; while others are queuing up to do so.
This happy tiding calls for more urgency and seriousness in dealing with the
matter in coming days.

A look at the national airline and the
other competitors in the private sector is also in order. From all indications
PIA appears to be rapidly coming out of its deep slumber to face the new
realities under its new management. With continued solid backing from the
government a loyal expatriate support in the strong overseas communities, PIA is
still reported to be holding a lion's share in the market - 65 percent in the
domestic and 49 percent on the international - despite cut-throat competition
and poaching by regional airlines through various incentives.

It is quite obvious, PIA will have to
now do much more to hold on to this edge, with the expected onslaught of foreign
airlines, including some remarkable new airlines of India like Sahara and Jet
Airways, who are to soon join the competition.

PIA has already announced a massive
fleet replacement plan with acquisition of Boeing 777LR planes and replaces its
ancient Fokkers. However, they will have to do much more to face the competition
and give up its monopolistic attitudes developed over long period of times. The
recent figures released by PIA management talk of their achieving a revenue of
Rs. 64.07 billions, an increase of Rs. 6.2 billion, or 11% increase, despite the
intense competition and other inflationary factors. But on the other hand
passengers continued to face hassle getting seats especially on Trans-Atlantic
and UK routes and are standing up to compete with PIA is the youngest and highly
innovative - Airblue. This airline has in a short period of time carved a niche
for itself for which credit must go to its top management. Its Chief Executive
is Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Marketing Director, Nasir Ali, both formerly of PIA.
They have shown how with proper planning you can run a lean and efficient
airline which is not only getting their repeat and happy customers back but also
winning new ones to show a graph going up rapidly. Most of their flights are
stated to be sellout due to good marketing and their expansion both on domestic
and international routes speak of their instant success. They are the airline to
watch looking at their steady growth and the success story.

The others in the run, Aero Asia,
Shaheen both have met with a reasonable success and are all expanding both on
domestic and regional routes. They are also planning to enter UK and other
foreign markets and have shown only the fittest can survive in this competition
in the long run. So one wishes them all best of luck and hope they will serve
the people to keep flag of Pakistan high wherever they fly.